During the Congressional Leadership Priorities session at the 2026 AASHTO Washington Briefing, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, shared his perspective on surface transportation reauthorization and the broader challenges facing the nation’s infrastructure. Sen. Whitehouse emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in the Senate to advance a strong highway bill, while highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather on transportation systems. He pointed to coastal flooding, wildfire risk, and infrastructure resilience as critical priorities, underscoring the need to prepare the nation’s roads, bridges, and transit networks for a more volatile climate. He also discussed concerns related to funding execution, permitting reform negotiations, and the responsibility to ensure that congressionally approved infrastructure investments are implemented consistently and fairly. His remarks reinforced the urgency of protecting infrastructure, strengthening economic stability, and maintaining a dependable federal state partnership to keep America moving safely and resiliently.
View From Washington DC
View From Washington DC
